Chris Paul Faces Fine For Comments
- Updated: February 7, 2015
The Los Angeles Clippers’ star, Chris Paul, has been dealt his consequence for speaking out after the Cavaliers matchup.
Chris Paul has been fined $25,000 after he publicly called out first-year officiant, Lauren Holtkamp. He was frustrated after she called him for a technical foul.
The comment that sparked the controversy can be seen below:
“Some of [the technical fouls] were ridiculous,” Paul said. “The tech that I get right there was ridiculous. I don’t care what nobody says, I don’t care what she says; that’s terrible. There’s no way that can be a tech. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did that, she said, ‘Uh-uh.’ I said, ‘Why, uh-uh?’ And she gave me a tech.
“That’s ridiculous. If that’s the case, this might not be for her.”
This quickly was made into a gender issue and caused the NBA Referee Union to react. ESPN.com reports that a source close to the NBA big-wigs feel the comments were not gender-based. Chris Paul also clarified his comments were simply about “a bad call.”
Executive director of the NBA Players Association, Michele Roberts, also publicly defended Paul on Friday.
“Any suggestion that Chris Paul would ever conduct himself in a disrespectful manner towards women is utterly ridiculous, outrageous and patently false,” Roberts said. “His personal management team, which includes several accomplished women who play a major role in virtually all of his business affairs is, alone, evidence of that fact. … Without hesitation, the Players Association stands firmly behind Chris, whose competitiveness may only be exceeded by the strength of his values and his convictions.”
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